Every month I put a list together of the books that I either need to read for review or the books that I want to get around to reading (finally). I’m also trying to be more responsible for my Kindle Unlimited and Audible Romance Package subsriptions so I’m going to post my TBR Pile on the blog so you guys can keep me honest. Before we get to my list for next month, let’s see how I did in December.

Previous Month Stats

Books to Read: 9
Books Read: 6
Books Unread: 3
Pages Read: 2,429 | Hours Listened: 11 hours, 36 minutes
Favorite TBR Book: My Favorite Half Night Stand | Least Favorite TBR Book: Ache for You, Mystery Man

I didn’t read nearly as many books as I wanted or even counted on reading in December so I’m surprised that I got a bunch of TBR reads done anyway. Go me? *shrugs* I really need to get my shit together so let’s hope January is a better reading month for me.

January’s TBR Pile

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West
Releases on February 5, 2019
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: eARC

Lacey Barnes has dreamt of being in a movie for as long as she can remember. However, while her dream did include working alongside the hottest actor in Hollywood, it didn’t involve having to finish up her senior year of high school at the same time she was getting her big break. Although that is nothing compared to Donavan, the straight-laced student her father hires to tutor her, who is a full-on nightmare.

As Lacey struggles to juggle her burgeoning career, some on-set sabotage, and an off-screen romance with the unlikeliest of leading men, she quickly learns that sometimes the best stories happen when you go off script.

I’m going to try to get all of my February ARCs read and reviews prepped for posting sooner rather than later so this book is up first. It releases on February 5th so I’ve got some time but I’m trying to stay on top of my review pile and hope reading slumps don’t make that hard for me.

The Scoundrel in Her Bed (Sins for All Season #3) by Lorraine Heath
Releases on February 26, 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins, Avon
Genres: Historical, Romance
Pages: 400
Format: eARC

The third electrifying romance in Lorraine Heath’s USA Today bestselling Sins of all Seasons series.

The bastard son of a nobleman, Finn Trewlove was a shameful secret raised by a stranger. As Finn came of age, he had secrets, too—the clandestine nights spent with an earl’s daughter. But her promise of forever ended in betrayal.

Driven by a past that haunts her, Lady Lavinia Kent seeks redemption in London’s underworld, engaged in a daring cause inspired by the young man to whom she gave her innocence, and who then proved himself a scoundrel by abandoning her.

When their paths cross again, they can’t deny the yearning and desire that still burns. As they discover the truth behind the deceptions that tore them apart, Finn and Lavinia must fight to reclaim what they’ve lost, no matter how dangerous—because love is worth the risk…

Another review book that I’m really looking forward to reading. It’s Finn’s book and he’s the guy that Lavinia’s secret lover!! Oh, I can’t wait to jump into this one but I need to get this book read this month so it’s on my TBR pile.

Blood Kiss (Black Dagger Legacy #1) by J.R. Ward
Released on December 1, 2015
Publisher: Random House, Signet
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 397
Format: eBook

The legacy of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues in a spin-off series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author…

Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for herself, think for herself…be herself. It’s a good plan, until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge, Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having serious problems in his own life.

And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate. Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire program, and the erotic pull between them grows irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never anticipated—and left wondering whether she’s strong enough to claim her own power…on the field, and off.

Blood Kiss is my January book club pick so I’ll be reading this in the next couple of weeks so that I can be prepared for that discussion. I’m not a fan of J.R. Ward so this should be interesting. *shrugs*

The Wrong Game by Kandi Steiner
Releases on October 16, 2018
Publisher: Self Published, Kandi Steiner
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 393
Format: eBook

From the bestselling author of A Love Letter to Whiskey and the What He Doesn’t Know Duet comes an angsty, emotional, and fun sports romance.

Two season tickets.
One genius idea.
Zero interest in a relationship.

The plan is simple: a brand new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.

I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof.

Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.

He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks.

But as I said, I’m a woman of plans — and I’m not backing down on this one.

One night. One game. And then, his time’s up.

He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: he can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.

The premise of this book sounds like a book that Julie James mentioned wanting to write a couple of years ago at her reader event in Culver City. I came across this blurb and wanted to read it so I’ll be reading this with my buddy Holly and we’ll be reviewing it together on our book blog, Book Binge.

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
Releases on January 29, 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins, William Morrow Paperbacks
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher, Edelweiss

Crush: a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…

… If Darcy Barrett hadn’t met her dream man when she was eight years old, the rest of the male population wouldn’t be such a let-down. No one measures up to Tom Valeska, aka the best man on Earth, not in looks, brain or heart. Even worse is the knowledge that her twin brother Jamie saw him first, and claimed him forever as his best friend.

Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. One percent of Tom has had to be enough for Darcy, and her adoration has been sustained by his shy kindness. And if she’s honest, his tight t-shirts.

Now Darcy’s got three months left to get her life together before her twin insists on selling the tumble-down cottage they inherited from their grandmother. By night, she’s working in a seedy bar, shooting down lame pickups from bikers. By day, she’s sewing underwear for her best friend and wasting her award-winning photography skills on website shots of pens and novelty mugs. She’s enjoying living the messy life, and a glass of wine or ten… until that one night, when she finds a six-foot-six perfect package on her porch.

Tom’s here, he’s bearing power tools—and he’s single for the first time in a decade.

As a house flipper extraordinaire, Tom has been dispatched by Jamie to give the cottage a drastic facelift that will result in a ton of cash. Darcy doesn’t appreciate Tom’s unsentimental approach to knocking down walls, and he really, really doesn’t approve of her current burnout boyfriend. They can’t be in the same room together without sparks flying- and it’s not the faulty wiring. One bedroom wall separates them at night, and even that’s looking flimsy.

Will Tom ever see Darcy as anything other than a little-sister obstacle to get around? And can she stand up to her most formidable opponent—her twin? This time around, she’s determined to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers, and he’s never managed to say no to her yet…

I gotta get this book read so it’s going back on my TBR list for January. Let’s really do this, shall we? Fingers crossed.

Governess Gone Rogue (Dear Lady Truelove #3) by Laura Lee Guhrke
Releases on January 29, 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins, Avon
Genres: Historical, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC

Dear Lady Truelove…

My twin brother and I need a new mother, though Papa insists he’ll never marry again. Must be nice, brainy, and fond of cats…

Lady Truelove may be London’s most famous advice columnist, but James St. Clair, the Earl of Kenyon, knows his wild young sons need a tutor, not a new mother. They need a man tough enough to make his hellions tow the line, and James is determined to find one.

Miss Amanda Leighton, former schoolteacher and governess, knows she has all the qualifications to be a tutor. And while female tutors are unheard of, Amanda isn’t about to lose the chance at her dream job because of pesky details like that. If Lord Kenyon insists on hiring a man, then she has only one option.

Jamie isn’t sure what to make of his new employee, until he realizes the shocking truth—beneath the ill-fitting suits, his boys’ tutor is a woman. An unconventional, outspoken, thoroughly intriguing woman. Despite Amanda’s deception, he can’t dismiss her when his boys are learning so much. Yet Jamie, too, is learning surprising lessons—about desire, seduction, and passionate second chances.

I’m really enjoying this series so I’m looking forward to this next installment. I was supposed to read this last month but I fell into the worst kind of reading slump so I didn’t get around to it. Fingers crossed for this month. I need to get my ass in gear.

Right Where I Want You by Jessica Hawkins
Releases on December 27, 2018
Publisher: Self Published, Jessica Hawkins
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 398
Format: eBook

There’s a thin line between love and hate . . . and it cuts right through the middle of their office.

Bad boys? They run right over good girls like Georgina Keller. After a confidence-shattering breakup, she’s determined not to let anyone at her new workplace push her around–least of all the brooding creative director, a “bad boy of publishing” who’s made it clear she’s enemy #1.

Sebastian Quinn’s taste for fast cars, late nights, and beautiful women may have gotten him to the top of a leading New York magazine, but the reputation that made him is suddenly threatening to end his career.

Georgina can help Modern Man shed its bad reputation, but in order to do that, she’ll have to start at the top–and no amount of rakish charm or inconvenient attraction will distract her.

Because if Sebastian gets her right where he wants her, it means she’s going down.

It was Amy’s turn to pick a buddy review for this month and she’s chosen this book so I’ll be reading it and I’ve also been hearing good things about it so I’m looking forward to diving right in. Woot!

What books are on your TBR pile for January? Anything good that I should keep my eye out on?Please share the books you have on deck to read next month.